By Mercy Aikoye
Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating cervical cancer. Prof. Isaac Adewole, Chairman of the National Task Force on Cervical Cancer Elimination (NTF-CCE), made the declaration ahead of World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day.
Prof. Adewole described cervical cancer as a preventable tragedy that claims thousands of lives. “Despite available vaccines and early detection methods, the disease remains a serious public health challenge,” he said.
The Task Force has secured a N1 billion donation from Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to support nationwide screening. The funds will be used for a nationwide rollout of HPV testing across the six geopolitical zones.
The Task Force has constituted a national project implementation subcommittee to plan the rollout. “The committee has been mandated to plan a nationwide rollout of HPV testing… The beneficiary state’s commitment to counterpart funding is a prerequisite for selecting the six states for the pilot,” Prof. Adewole said.
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Nigerian women. In 2022, Nigeria recorded 14,089 new cases and 8,240 deaths, with a fatality rate of about 60 percent.
Nigeria has been at the forefront of global efforts to eliminate cervical cancer. In 2018, the country joined the WHO Director-General at the United Nations General Assembly to call for international collaboration.
The Partnership to Eliminate Cervical Cancer in Nigeria (PECCiN) aims to vaccinate 8 million adolescent girls and screen 8 million women annually. “The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency will lead vaccine delivery, while the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment oversees screening,” Prof. Adewole said.
Nigeria has made significant progress in cervical cancer vaccination, with over 15 million girls vaccinated in two years. Prof. Adewole urged collaboration with state governments, health agencies, and civil society to achieve the Task Force’s ambitious targets. “Our goal is clear: to put Nigeria firmly on the path to cervical cancer elimination,” he said.
